World February 8, 2026

Bad Bunny Turns Super Bowl Halftime Into Celebration of Puerto Rico, Gaga Joins in Surprise Cameo

Levi's Stadium set staged homages to island life as Bad Bunny wove reggaeton, surprise guests and a political rebuke into his performance

By Hana Yamamoto
Bad Bunny Turns Super Bowl Halftime Into Celebration of Puerto Rico, Gaga Joins in Surprise Cameo

Bad Bunny converted the Super Bowl halftime stage at Levi's Stadium into an extended tribute to Puerto Rico, moving through scenes of everyday island life and performing a sequence of his and reggaeton classics. The set featured a surprise appearance by Lady Gaga, a salute from reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee and a guest turn from Ricky Martin. The performance included prominent imagery, a stadium message reading "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," and drew a political rebuke from U.S. conservatives over the artist's views on immigration.

Key Points

  • The halftime show was designed as a cultural tribute to Puerto Rico, combining staged vignettes and a sequence of reggaeton and pop performances.
  • High-profile guest appearances included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, while reggaeton pioneer Daddy Yankee was honored through a performance of "Gasolina," highlighting the genre's mainstream presence.
  • The broadcast carried political overtones - Bad Bunny's selection prompted rebuke from President Donald Trump and other conservatives over his public criticism of U.S. immigration policy - and the show followed last year's halftime performance that drew more than 130 million viewers, indicating significant audience stakes for broadcasters.

SANTA CLARA, California - Bad Bunny delivered a halftime show at Levi's Stadium that the performer framed as a vivid homage to Puerto Rico, combining high-energy reggaeton numbers with staged vignettes of island culture and surprise guest appearances.

Wearing a white suit, Bad Bunny opened with "Tití Me Preguntó" and moved through a series of scenes evoking Puerto Rican life - farmers wearing traditional pava hats, players gathered around domino tables, and boxers preparing to compete - before launching into "Voy a Llevarte Pa PR." The production shifted to a second performance area labeled "La Casita," where he performed "Safaera." From there he moved into a rapid sequence that included Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" and one of his own hits, "EoO."

A staged wedding sequence featured the emblematic La Rana Concho across the stadium screens and set the stage for a surprise entrance by Lady Gaga. She joined Bad Bunny for "Baile Inolvidable" and then transitioned into "New York," which came across in the performance as an apparent acknowledgment of his recent Grammy win.

Ricky Martin later appeared onstage for "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawai." During the set Bad Bunny held aloft the Puerto Rican flag and performed "El Apagón," at which point the stadium erupted in light before he continued with "Café Con Ron." Large screens displayed the phrase "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," and the show concluded with the title track from his Grammy-winning album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos."

Broadly, the halftime presentation was described as a milestone for Latin music on the Super Bowl platform, following last year's Kendrick Lamar set that attracted more than 130 million viewers. The show used the national broadcast to foreground Bad Bunny's heritage and to underscore reggaeton's growing visibility within mainstream American culture.

The selection of Bad Bunny - whose full name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio - to headline the halftime slot prompted criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and other conservative figures, who objected to the entertainer's outspoken stance on U.S. immigration policy. At halftime, the game score showed Seattle leading New England 9-0.


Set highlights:

  • Opening with "Tití Me Preguntó" and scenes of Puerto Rican daily life
  • Performance at a secondary stage called "La Casita," including "Safaera"
  • Segments featuring "Gasolina," "EoO," a staged wedding and Lady Gaga's surprise cameo
  • Ricky Martin joining for "Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawai," the Puerto Rican flag raised and the finale "Debí Tirar Más Fotos"

Risks

  • Political backlash - the choice of Bad Bunny prompted criticism from U.S. conservative figures, which could affect public and advertiser response to high-profile live broadcasts. This risk touches the media, advertising and broadcasting sectors.
  • Uncertain viewership comparisons - while last year's halftime show drew more than 130 million viewers, the article does not provide this year's final audience numbers, leaving the impact on broadcasters' ratings and advertising revenue unclear.

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